Trolsk
‘Trolsk’ is a wonderful and uniquely Norwegian word. Loosely translated it means trollish – of trolls, in the mythical sense of something magical and unreal – but to really understand what it means you have to experience Norwegian nature at its moodiest and most spiritual.
Ancient forests and mountains covered in a thick, swirling mist; brooding clouds; a light drizzle; pines and moss and bogs and lakes and streams and rocks – combining into the peculiarly Norwegian terrain most famously illustrated by the renowned artist Theodor Kittelsen. A landscape in any season where strange, mystical and mythical shapes emerge from nature, giving rise to the old stories of troll and nøkken and huldra.
This is trolsk. And there is something almost Lovecraftian about the darker side of it. Something spiritual, primal and eldritch, something shadowy and somber and often terrifying. Something immensely powerful. There are few things that fire up my creative engines the way this landscape does. In fact, more than anything, the Norwegian mountains and forests fuelled my early love for myths and fairy tales, for the fantastical and spiritual and dark, and it’s been a red thread through everything I’ve done.
Sadly, outside of the collected works of Asbjørnsen and Moe and Kittelsen’s art, the Norwegian folk tale has never been done justice in any medium. There’s a lot of Norwegian horror films these days – good horror, even – but most of it could have been made anywhere there’s snow and woods. Zombies and serial killers aren’t unique to Norway (even when they are frozen Nazi zombies). The vast reservoir of folk tales and legends has been left untapped by modern media.
So for a couple of years now, I’ve been working on a story that I hope will turn into something that captures the spirit and mood of trolsk, modernising the Norwegian folk tale and translating it into something that could work as a film, short story or graphic novel – perhaps even an RPG/adventure. It’s been on the back-burner for a while, but after a too-brief trip to the mountains this summer, I felt a call to continue, and I know now where it’s heading. I understand the core of the story, the themes, and how it’s going to play out. And it’s exciting to see these vast and misty shapes take form.
Traditionally, trolls were a far cry from the bushy haired gnomes of pop culture. They were pure forces of nature; ancient giants of immense power that resided in the deepest, darkest forests and highest mountains; creatures of stone and earth and wood and grass. Unfortunately the idea of the troll has been subverted and commercialised into innocuous and silly creatures with button eyes and huge red noses, a far cry from Kittelsen’s wonderfully dangerous creations.
The idea of the troll in my story is of something almost godlike, an ancient force of nature inherent in the hills and valleys, lakes and deep forests of Norway. Not as a character itself but more a framework and thematic foundation, something the characters in the story have to relate to, and perhaps even interact with.
But I won’t spoil it. Hopefully you’ll be able to see or read or play it for yourself some day.
Brave, writing about something that exists as mere concept… Half your readers are going to want to read it Now! and the other half are going to ask why on earth you aren’t focusing on Dreamfall chapters. You know, obviously I’m here because I’ve loved your work in games, so I’d like to see you make more but, to be honest I’d read/see/play it in any format.
A very intriguing idea, one I would very much like to see fleshed out. The whole brooding, misty feeling you conjure up in those first few paragraphs is something I can relate to, but it’s also something I haven’t been able to find in many art forms, except maybe (rarely) in some books. Even movies don’t use that mighty, raw natural feel all that much.
So you go, Ragnar! I think this is a great idea. I’d read/play it in whatever form.
Just a small question, though: wouldn’t this whole “dark force of nature” thing fit perfectly with the TSW themes? Of course all I know is the lore I found while researching the ARGs, but it doesn’t seem all that far removed…
Is there a reason why you’d rather make this ‘Trolsk’ thing into a different project?
Some of these kind of stories used to keep me up some nights – at least when my dad started to be abit to creative with them, mixing in all kinds of stuff, like aliens and old spirits thats trapped inside the wood used in our cabin
.
But I agree that there isnt much out there today, and your idea is truly a fresh one.
I’ve been waiting for something like this! Tomtenisse FTW!
Oh. This story could be very good, and quite unique. I’m looking forwards to the time when I’m able to read/play/see it.
Also… Wow. Two blog posts almost at once!
Ragnar, incorporate it into Dreamfall Chapters somehow and make everyone happy
I say that partly in jest,(only partly); but you have to wonder if the concept of the Storytime in Dreamfall couldn’t be the jumping off point for other stories that don’t exactly fit into the main story.
“This is where the stories are told, the stories that create the sky and the ground and all that is in between.”
I really like that idea, obviously I have ideas on how you might do that as a game (looks at Shadow of The Colossus ) though i know it’ll be neat and original. If you write a book I haven’t a clue what you’ll do, it sounds awesome!!!
Good luck Mr. Tornquist!
you know, ragnar, in russian that -sk suffix has different meaning – “the town/city of” or “named after”. so “trolsk” would mean something like “the city of trolls” :p
I don’t believe my eyes! Ragnar… a total mac-fan…
Anything in any medium that gives Nature her due while having at least some artistic quality is great in my book. And coming from you, Ragnar, it can only be greatER.
I like the top pic the best. A pathway whispering for you to follow it where no steps have trodden before. Straight out of a Robert Frost poem I think:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
I have one question: If TSW has been in production for over 5 years now, and it’s a MMORPG, where is the high-quality, intensive advertising for the game? I cannot for the life of me understand how an MMORPG can become a huge success, just on word of mouth. I’m from NC in the U.S. and I have told as many people as I know about this forthcoming game but I’ve seen little to no fanfare about the game except for The Secret World site and Cry Gaia sight. Little is known about the game except for the few who are lucky enough to have found it. I have just joined Twitter, and am trying to send out tweets now about the game… just to get it more into the media and out there for consumers to see… yet it needs more than just me to advertise it. How can i help further this cause to a greater extent?
Just saw the preview for The Secret World on Gamespot. Pretty nice, not sure if its for me or too occulty, but the trailer with the milkshake and katana was to awesome
I had already wanted to go to Norway after reading this article, and then this comes up and seals the deal: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091005/ts_afp/undevelopmentpoverty_20091005115324
What a nice post! I love the pictures. I am very excited to experience the final version of this story you are working on. I feel the same way about dragons that you feel about trolls. In Chinese culture, the dragon is not just a fat lizard with wings. The Chinese dragon is closely connected to water cycles. Regarding the Norwegian folk tale, didn’t Tolkien find inspiration for The Lord of the Rings from Scandinavian folk tales?
There’s a painter called Bruno Torfs who makes clay artwork in a forest that reminded me very much of this article. His sculptures look like they are part of the trees.
Here are some pictures:
http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/10/18/creative-sculptures-by-bruno-torfs/
And here’s the official page with some more artwork:
http://www.brunosart.com/index.html
thank you for reminding me that I’m norwegian.
Great reading INDEED!
There are few people in this world that really honestly make me rethink the way I think about things(apologies for the weird wording). And You Ragnar have done it to me on several occasions. I don’t know what it is, but the way you write always cuts me deep and makes wonder about things I’m not costumed to.
Either through your games or words, I am always somehow left feeling inspired yet drained at the same time…this article is no exception.
…/lifestory